A busy weather pattern is unfolding for our local area. Several periods of rain and thunderstorms will occur between now and Monday night. A winter storm is possible this weekend in and close to our region.Monitor the very latest forecasts over the coming days. I am expecting the forecast to change several times as the event unfolds. I can't rule out ice in parts of our region on Saturday night into Monday. Pay a little more attention to any watches/warnings that may need to be issued.

HEADLINES:First off - I need to remind everyone that the NWS Radar out of Paducah, KY will be down for maintenance for at least 1-2 weeks. Use neighboring or regional radars to view precipitation.I promised you busy weather and busy weather is what you are about to receive. A series of storm systems will move through our region over the coming days. These systems will move along a stalled front that will find itself draped over our region this weekend.The first wave of precipitation will occur on Thursday into Thursday night. Another wave of precipitation will occur on Saturday afternoon into Sunday night.Widespread 1-2" of rain will occur over the coming days with pockets of 2-4" likely. We need the rain.There will be a small window of opportunity for a few severe thunderstorms on Thursday evening and Thursday night. Wind fields will increase sharply during this time frame. Instability is in question - as it typically is during winter months.Right now the main time frame for concern would likely by 4 pm Thursday afternoon through 2 or 3 am Friday morning.Monitor local media and the NWS for any watches and/or warnings that may need to be issued.It will be warm on Thursday and Friday/Saturday. Temperatures will be in the 60s over most of our area. Colder air will start to move into our northwest counties on Saturday afternoon and night - this cold air will slowly move south and east on Sunday.There will be a sharp temperature contrast over our region this weekend. I would not be surprised to see a 30-40 degree temperature difference across parts of southeast Missouri into western Kentucky.A wintry mix is likely to develop in our region on Saturday night into Monday morning. All forms of precipitation will be possible. This will include snow, sleet, and freezing rain. An ice storm can not be ruled out over some of our counties. This will depend on how far south and east the cold air moves. Monitor the latest forecasts. Winter storm watches of some sort may need to be issued this weekend.I will keep the Facebook page updated. - here http://www.facebook.com/beaudodsonweather

Thunderstorms are possible Thursday into Friday morning. I can't rule out a few severe thunderstorms in and close to the region on Thursday evening into Thursday night. Wind damage would be the main concern. An isolated tornado is also possible. The overall risk appears low at any given location.

Locally heavy rain is possible Thursday into Thursday night and again on Saturday into Sunday. A few thunderstorms could produce severe weather on Thursday evening.A wintry mix is possible over parts of our region Saturday night into Monday. Monitor latest forecast updates.

The wild card in the forecast will be the placement of the freezing line on Saturday night into Monday. A wintry mix is possible over at least parts of our region as colder air moves in behind a cold front this weekend. Monitor updates..

The links above are interactive and you can move around the United States by simply clicking on the national map - or from the pull down menu where it says regions and US States..To view the interactive warning map - click here.

A winter storm is possible Saturday night into Monday in or near our region. Colder air will arrive from the northwest on Saturday - this colder air will slowly push south and east through our region. As the colder air arrives there will be precipitation moving northward from the Gulf of Mexico. This precipitation will spread across our region on Saturday afternoon and evening. The rain may change to snow, sleet, and freezing rain on Saturday night and Sunday.The exact placement of the snow/ice/rain line is in question. Monitor updated forecasts.

.The Weather Observatory is a strong partner with the National Weather Service - click here to visit your local NWS web-site. For the most up to date warnings/advisories hit refresh on their page..We have a number of new radars available on our Weather Observatory web-site !--- We now offer St Louis, Mt Vernon, Evansville, Poplar Bluff, Cape Girardeau, Marion, Paducah, Hopkinsville, Memphis, Nashville, and Dyersburg Interactive City Radars. I have added all of eastern Kentucky, as well.We also have the two regional radars and now offer you three GR Earth radars.Click here for our radar page - WEATHER RADARS------ We also have a new interactive radar - you can view that radar by clicking here.

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Want to learn more about how to use our radars? Here is a video with more information

.You can also now view the probability of X amount of rain (you pick the value on the web-site) in a six hour period of time. Those maps can be viewed here. .Current conditions - including temperatures, apparent temperatures, heat index, wind chill, wind, pressure, humidity, dew points, and more - click here.

1. Colder air for our region next week. Latest drought information:DROUGHT INFORMATION - CLICK HERE Seasonal outlooks can be viewed on the web-site - click hereIf you are a weather enthusiast then I recommend listening to WeatherBrains each week! For a more in-depth look at what is happening in meteorology.

Now is a GREAT time to buy a NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio. Better to have one before storms strike than to be without one during an event. I recommend the Midland Model 300 NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio - that is what I use here at my house!